Archive for Fresno

Artie Padilla talks about a Fresno ministry that partners local churches with neighborhood schools. Of the 92 public elementary schools in Fresno, 46 currently have partner churches that provide tutoring, Saturday sports and other mentoring activities designed to help build healthy kids, families and neighborhoods–and in the process grow the Kingdom of God. Artie is the director and founder of Every Neighborhood Partnership.

Rici & Phil Skei share about their work to build Christian community in the heart of Fresno. Ministering in an area once known as “The Devil’s Triangle,” they have launched and now co-pastor On Ramps Convenant Church. They talk about their calling to build a healing community that heals its community.

Phil & Rici Skei are our guests teachers this Sunday morning. They share their experience living in the Lowell community, “the devil’s triangle” of downtown. They talk about their work leading On Ramps Covenant Church as they teach the theological principles underlying their work. They also challenge us to live incarnationally in our own life/church situations.

Sergeant Stephen Crawford of the Fresno Police Department speaks to a session of all combined adult classes. He shares about the challenges of balancing family, personal life and ongoing education with the high demands of law enforcement. He talks about how important his faith is in sustaining him. (At the end, one member of the audience notes that many folks encounter police when they are at their worst, making the job of these public servants even more difficult.) It was a refreshing session as we learned to appreciate this important line of work while noting some of the obvious difficulties.